SPRATT'S NEW GAME OF CROQUET.
ENTERED AT STATIONERS'
HALL
The arches to be placed in the ground about
seven and eight feet apart.
Each player places
his ball down within two feet of pole A, and striking it with his mallet,
endeavours to send it through arches 1 and 2, then to strike his ball as
near as possible to C, next through arches 3, 4, and 5, then to strike it
as near as possible to D, next through arches 6 and 7, then on to touch
pole B; return through arches 7 and 6, then through arches 8, 9, and 10,
lastly through arches 2 and 1, afterwards whoever touches pole A with his
ball wins the game.
Players strike their balls
alternately; but when a player sends his ball through an arch he is
entitled to another stroke, and also when he "roquets" his adversary he
gets another stroke. "Roquet" is produced when a player strikes his
opponent's ball with his own; he should then put his own ball quite close
to his opponent's, and placing his foot firmly on his own ball, OO strike
his opponents ball, and send it as far as possible in an unfavourable
direction; his opponent has to play from that point, and his own ball
remains steady, then he also gets another
stroke.
Each player must go through each arch,
the proper course, and if he pass an arch he must wait for his next
turn.
The game is described as for two
players; if more play (any even number) say six, three take one side and
three the other; any of either side winning wins the game, and they play
alternately.